lifestyle – Organic Authorityhttp://www.organicauthority.com
Organic Authority - organic food, organic living, green living, organic thoughts.Mon, 19 Mar 2018 07:00:17 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4We are So in Love with the Love Goodly Subscription Box!http://www.organicauthority.com/we-are-so-in-love-with-the-love-goodly-subscription-box/
Mon, 07 Mar 2016 09:00:16 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=42418You know how natural beauty boxes are all the rage, right? Seen them, done that, nothing new. If that is how you feel, time to meet Love Goodly. What’s so different or special about this box? For starters, the Love Goodly box is not just about beauty. While I love a fun beauty box as […]

You know how natural beauty boxes are all the rage, right? Seen them, done that, nothing new. If that is how you feel, time to meet Love Goodly.

What’s so different or special about this box? For starters, the Love Goodly box is not just about beauty. While I love a fun beauty box as much as the next gal, it is pretty darn exciting to get a mix of beauty, lifestyle, and wellness items right on your door step.

The Love Goodly box that arrived in my mail contained some nifty natural beauty products, yes. It also contained a box of organic muesli (who doesn’t love a yummy oatmeal blend?!) and a sweet little sterling silver bracelet. Yes, jewelry. A value of over $85 and pretty cute too.

You can shop all brands from the boxes on the Love Goodly Shop page, and can filter your shopping experience by value icon – like supports charity, vegan, or cruelty-free. On the site you can also find a comprehensive listing of harmful ingredients and sign up for the box, which ships every other month.

Ok, now back to that box.

Since I’m all about the beauty I’d like to start there. My box contained a bottle of LVX vegan nail polish in True LOVE Red, an exclusive collab between the brand and Love Goodly. I also received a bar of SkinnySkinny Basil & Mint Soap, a Cellar Door Tahitian Grapefruit Vanilla Travel candle, and the aforementioned muesli and bracelet.

Justine Lassoff and Katie Bogue Miller, cofounders of Love Goodly, were kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Here’s what they had to say.

An Interview With Justine Lassoff and Katie Bogue Miller of Love Goodly

Liz Thompson: Love your site, it’s like an organic beauty/wellness shop with the best full-sized samples program ever! Can you tell us a bit about what inspires you to live a healthy, nontoxic lifestyle?

Justine Lassoff: I have always been focused on health and fitness, having grown up with an active family. Diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are an epidemic. After watching “Forks over Knives”, and realizing the impact a plant-based diet can have on improving your health, my husband and I completely changed our diet. And realizing that our skin is our largest organ (60 percent of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body), and that our government currently does no testing of personal care products with the average woman being exposed to 168 different chemicals a day, using nontoxic beauty and skincare just makes sense.

LT: Another cool feature you have is giving back, with 5 percent of each box sold going to charity. How did you choose the organizations you contribute to?

JL: We select charities that we are passionate about, and that relate to our mission. Farm Sanctuary, focused on compassion for animals, aligns with our belief in cruelty-free, with no animals ever being harmed. Cure Cervical Cancer is an organization that is helping cure women by setting up sustainable clinics in third world countries.

LT: Many items on your site are vegan and gluten free. Do either of you eat vegan and/or gluten free diets?

Katie Bogue Miller: Yes! Our whole site is always vegan, and we strive for gluten-free and organic whenever possible. I have been vegan for 10+ years and vegetarian of 25 years. I am a firm believer that what you put into your body directly relates to your health (obviously!) and that goes for what you put onto your skin as well. The importance of being vegan to me is three fold: compassion for animals, better for my health, and better for the environment.

LT: Which beauty product can you not live without?

JL: The beauty product I cannot live without is KINDri’s Organic Beauty Oil – it’s a blend of pure organic oils by Robin McDonald, Charlize Theron’s aesthetician, that I use every day!

KBM:Blissoma Awake Moisturizer– organic, raw, and vegan. Completely moisturizing but non-greasy. It firms lightly and is very wearable under makeup. Also, I am never without a Hurraw! Balm, truly the best and tastiest lip balm. All raw, simple ingredients.

LT: If you were to give one healthful lifestyle tip to women, what would it be?

JL: Watch “Forks Over Knives,” eat more plants, and check the ingredients on your beauty and skincare products!

]]>Is a Fruit and Veggie Diet the Key to Happiness? According to New Research, it May Behttp://www.organicauthority.com/is-a-fruit-and-veggie-diet-the-key-to-happiness-according-to-new-research-it-may-be/
Thu, 25 Sep 2014 07:00:08 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=31506Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy you lots and lots of fresh produce. And according to new research, spending your money on a healthy fruit and veggie diet isn’t just good for your physical wellbeing: It’s critical to your mental health as well. According to the study, 33.5 percent of the people who consumed […]

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy you lots and lots of fresh produce. And according to new research, spending your money on a healthy fruit and veggie diet isn’t just good for your physical wellbeing: It’s critical to your mental health as well.

According to the study, 33.5 percent of the people who consumed at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day were more likely to score higher for mental wellbeing than those who consumed less than one portion of fruits or vegetables daily.

The study, published in BMJ Open, looked at data on more than 14,000 individuals who participated in the Health Survey for England. The researchers looked at the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale as a measure for the participants’ wellbeing.

“Smoking, alcohol intake and body mass index (BMI) were also measured against mental health; however, a consistent association across men and women was only found for smoking and fruit and vegetable consumption,” reports Food Navigator. “Meanwhile, alcohol intake and obesity were associated with low, but not high mental wellbeing.”

Speaking on the benefits of a high level fruit and veggie diet, lead author of the study, Dr. Saverio Stranges said: “These novel findings suggest that fruit and vegetable intake may play a potential role as a driver, not just of physical, but also of mental wellbeing in the general population.”

The study corroborates other research that has linked a healthy, mostly plant-based diet with mental health and wellbeing, as well as studies that have found poor mental health to be linked with diets high in processed junk food.

]]>7 Reasons Why Costa Ricans Are So Happyhttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/7-reasons-why-costa-ricans-are-so-happy.html
Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:19:47 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/7-reasons-why-costa-ricans-are-so-happy/The Happy Planet Index recently ranked the Central American country of Costa Rica as #1 on its list. Move over, Disneyland, because Costa Rica is officially the happiest place on earth. Based on a score compiled from the life expectancy, ecological footprint and wellbeing of individuals, the Happy Planet Index aims to show that what […]

The Happy Planet Index recently ranked the Central American country of Costa Rica as #1 on its list. Move over, Disneyland, because Costa Rica is officially the happiest place on earth. Based on a score compiled from the life expectancy, ecological footprint and wellbeing of individuals, the Happy Planet Index aims to show that what modern humans think brings happiness often does not – and perhaps we should pursue it differently.

Most measures of national progress truly just measure the economy, accounting for production and consumption. Although money can help alleviate sadness, it cannot buy happiness. Sales of self-help “find happiness” books are soaring in the United States, a country that ranks towards the bottom of the list on the Happy Planet Index. Perhaps it is time to see what a country like Costa Rica, a developing country that is far poorer than the United States, can teach us about the pursuit of happiness.

Why are Costa Ricans so happy? The reasons might surprise you.

1. Costa Rica has no army. Central America as a whole is known for civil unrest, but Costa Rica has a stable democracy and abolished its army altogether in 1949. Instead of spending a huge portion of its income on defense like the United States does, the Costa Rican government pours the money into education and health care. Educated, healthy people are more likely to be happy!

2. Costa Ricans love and protect their environment. Environmental protection is at the bottom of the docket for most governments, but Costa Rica is a leader in ecological sustainability. The first developing country to aim to be carbon neutral (by 2021), Costa Rica has a massive tree-planting program and is converting land into forests, not the other way around. Costa Rica is a world leader when it comes to being green, and this sense of pride and protectiveness towards your home breeds warm and fuzzy feelings of joy.

3. Costa Ricans don’t dwell. A popular philosophy in this country is the idea that no argument or quarrel should last more than three days. Holding grudges, refusing to forgive and staying angry can corrupt a person’s happiness greatly. Learn to let go.

4. Costa Ricans have high life expectancy, 78.5 years. This high life expectancy is thanks no doubt in part to the country’s excellent health care system, which offers high quality care at an affordable rate – about 1/3 to 1/5 of the price of the same care in the United States. The country invests in upgrading hospitals and training staff, and medical care is easy to find. The lesson? Taking care of yourself is paramount to your overall happiness.

5. Costa Ricans eat healthy and fresh foods with very few preservatives. A usual meal consists of fiber-rich beans and rice, served with an ample portion of fresh tropical fruits, vegetables or both. Costa Ricans eat a fraction of the amount of dairy, red meat, refined sugar and processed foods that Americans do, and they avoid the sour mood swings associated with these products.

6. Costa Ricans enjoy a slower pace of life in a tropical paradise. If you’re in a hurry, don’t go to Costa Rica. Rushing is rude, and anyway why would you want to rush through your experience of gorgeous beaches, lush mountains and amazing wildlife? A slower pace of life offers less stress than what you will find in many places in the U.S., and the warm and welcoming weather in Costa Rica causes smiles to break out for no reason at all. Climate has a bigger effect on your mood than many people want to admit.

7. Costa Ricans like to please.Happiness surveys are self-reported, as there is no intrinsic measure for this emotion. Some Costa Ricans can be agreeable to a fault; for example if you ask a local for directions that they don’t know, they might give you the wrong directions because they don’t want to cause a disagreeable situation by saying they can’t help you. Perhaps they are just reporting that they are happy because of the same underlying psychological reasons.

]]>You Are Your Food: Making Sense of Macrobioticshttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/what-is-the-macrobiotics-diet.html
Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:44:53 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/what-is-the-macrobiotics-diet/The word “macrobiotic” is Greek in origin and means something like “large life,” but it’s connected with a way of eating that is focused more on Asian food and culture. The Kushi institute describes it as a “view that we are the result of and are continually influenced by our total environment, which ranges from […]

The word “macrobiotic” is Greek in origin and means something like “large life,” but it’s connected with a way of eating that is focused more on Asian food and culture. The Kushi institute describes it as a “view that we are the result of and are continually influenced by our total environment, which ranges from the foods we eat and our daily social interactions to the climate and geography in which we live.” Considering how intimate the act of putting things in our mouths that will eventually become part of our bodies is, it’s no surprise there are systematic approaches designed to make us more aware, comfortable and healthy as a result of these choices.

Credit Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC), George Ohsawa (1893 – 1966)) and Michio Kushi (b. 1926) for combining millennia of information, diets and philosophies into modern macrobiotics. The diet has been embraced by millions for improving health, bringing balance, reversing, treating and preventing disease as well as connecting followers to the cycles of the earth’s seasons, which creates an important harmony and balance not to be overlooked. In these fast-paced, intense times, a practice such as macrobiotics may be as relevant a tool as Occupying, voting and activating our participation in the human evolution. (In other words, corporate eating will get ya sooner or later, so opt out of manufactured foods!)

At its most basic level, a daily macrobiotic diet is made up of at least fifty percent organic, whole grains including brown rice, millet, barley, oats, whole wheat, etc. Twenty to 30 percent of the diet comes from organic, seasonal vegetables lightly steamed, sautéed or raw. Lots of leafy greens, root vegetables, cabbages, squash. Vegetables avoided include the nightshades: potato, tomato,eggplant, peppers, zucchini. Ten percent of the diet comes by way of beans and sea vegetables. Beans such as adzuki, chickpeas and lentils are ideal. Sea vegetables including nori, wakame, kombu and dulse are recommended for their dense nutrient content.

Foods to avoid include animal products, refined sugars, tropical fruits, processed foods that contain artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, very spicy foods, very fragrant or aromatic foods and alcohol. Food should always be prepared fresh—not from cans or frozen.

And beyond what is eaten, the macrobiotic diet suggests eating only when hungry, chewing slowly and thoroughly, and bringing a focused attention and awareness to the meal (not the television or computer). Spend time outdoors. Spend quiet time alone. Exercise. Drink water and be mindful of how you use it otherwise. Keep a clean, clutter-free home and your mind and body will follow.

]]>Inflammation: The Silent Killer (And How to Outsmart Your Own Body)http://www.organicauthority.com/health/inflammation-the-silent-killer-and-how-to-outsmart-your-own-body.html
Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:38:27 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/inflammation-the-silent-killer-and-how-to-outsmart-your-own-body/As if our human bodies weren’t strange enough, the process by which the body regularly heals and detoxifies itself can also lead to life-threatening illnesses. The culprit: Inflammation. The dilemma: Without it, stubbed toes and runny noses don’t heal; inflammation is the body’s natural healing ability—essentially removing the injury to allow for recovery—but it can […]

As if our human bodies weren’t strange enough, the process by which the body regularly heals and detoxifies itself can also lead to life-threatening illnesses. The culprit: Inflammation. The dilemma: Without it, stubbed toes and runny noses don’t heal; inflammation is the body’s natural healing ability—essentially removing the injury to allow for recovery—but it can also accumulate in the body in a chronic fashion, leading to serious illnesses such as arthritis, obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Harvard Medical School research found that inflammation becomes chronic because of an imbalanced immune system. Mast cells are normal immune cells that in healthy individuals repair damaged cells. But in individuals with obesity and diabetes, mast cells accumulate in fat and can actually leak into tissue and start to cause serious damage.

The good news is that your diet and lifestyle choices can help you outsmart your body’s glitch mechanism and prevent—even reverse—the effects of chronic inflammation.

Reduce Inflammation Causing Foods

Red meat, dairy, processed foods, alcohol, sugar… we love to love them, but they’re some of the leading causes of inflammation in the body. This is due largely to the high incidence of Omega-6 fatty acids found in processed foods and animal products. While Omega-6 (like from hemp) is crucial for our health, too much can cause chronic inflammation.

Maximizing Hydration

Water is important for every cell of our bodies, and it’s especially powerful in flushing out toxins and inflammation. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol can dehydrate leading to more inflammation.

Adding Healthy Omega Fats

Essential fatty acids, like the Omega-3s found in hemp or flax oil, support the body’s anti-inflammatory response and reduce chronic inflammation. They can aid in pain management from chronic arthritis or acute injuries.

Getting Friendly with Bacteria

Cultures around the globe have eaten fermented or cultured foods since antiquity. The Standard American Diet has replaced these traditional foods for sugary, fatty, saltier versions that are often void of the necessary probiotics that protect and support the digestive system. Whether adding in cultured foods such as kimchee, sauerkraut or tempeh, or using a probiotic supplement, this can be a great aid in treating and preventing chronic inflammation.

Tapping the Power Plants

The plant kingdom is loaded with powerful healers, from plant enzymes in pineapple (bromelain) to turmeric (the seasoning in Indian food), which is loaded with curcuminoids—powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. Ginger is another powerful inflammation fighter that can be incorporated easily into your diet or taken as a supplement.

]]>5 Tips to Improve Your Eyesighthttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/5-tips-to-improve-your-eyes-foods-to-eat.html
Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:02:01 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/5-tips-to-improve-your-eyes-foods-to-eat/ From macular degeneration to the blur that comes after staring at a computer screen, eye health is no joke. Our peepers have a tendency to degrade with age, and guess what? It’s up to you to keep that vision sharp (well, partially). Research over the past few decades has shown that eye health is linked […]

From macular degeneration to the blur that comes after staring at a computer screen, eye health is no joke. Our peepers have a tendency to degrade with age, and guess what? It’s up to you to keep that vision sharp (well, partially). Research over the past few decades has shown that eye health is linked to diet and lifestyle (surprise, surprise). Being overweight, smoking, having diabetes, eating a high-fat diet, excessive alcohol consumption and low fruit and vegetable intake all increase the risk of eye diseases.

For this one pair of eyes that you’ve been given for an entire lifetime, here are five quick and easy tips that promote healthy eyes from raw foodist David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe:

1. Eat organic, green, leafy veggies (they have been known to help avoid macular degeneration). Stellar options include kale, collards and spinach.

2. Make sure you have plenty of Omega 3s in your diet (they improve eyesight and boost brain power)!

3. Eat chocolate (the flavonoids in chocolate help protect blood vessels in your eyes. Like we need another excuse, right?)!

4. Don’t stare at a computer screen too long. Use the 20/20/20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes. For 20 seconds, look at something 20 feet away or farther. This allows your eyes to refocus and relax and prevents the blurry vision that can occur by staring at a computer screen for too long.

5. Keep your eyes hydrated. You can do so from the inside-out by drinking your fair share of H2O. Also, don a nice pair of sunglasses with a UV filter to keep the wind from wicking the moisture from your lovely eyes. A simple saline solution can also help to lubricate and soothe eyes.

]]>From Our Friends: July 15, 2011http://www.organicauthority.com/from-our-friends/from-our-friends-july-14-2011.html
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:01:00 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s12-features/c39-from-our-friends/from-our-friends-july-14-2011/Happy Friday! This week’s From Our Friends is jam packed with stories about regular people undergoing big lifestyle changes, a couple articles on why plastic is more dangerous than you think, some strange info involving your feet and mosquitoes and an AWESOME pie making contest for the Los Angeles-area folks. So take a quick lunch […]

Happy Friday! This week’s From Our Friends is jam packed with stories about regular people undergoing big lifestyle changes, a couple articles on why plastic is more dangerous than you think, some strange info involving your feet and mosquitoes and an AWESOME pie making contest for the Los Angeles-area folks. So take a quick lunch break today and indulge in the goodness below. Have a great weekend!

1. Experience Life has a wonderful story about how a celebrity attorney underwent an unexpected transformation. You have to read to see how this turns out!

2. Speaking of transformations, Grist has an article about one man’s new found quest for a plastic purge.

]]>5 Spa Essentials You Can Take Home… To Live Longer!http://www.organicauthority.com/health/live-longer-with-essential-take-home-tips-from-the-spa.html
Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:43:10 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/live-longer-with-essential-take-home-tips-from-the-spa/ There’s nothing like an afternoon at the spa. A 60-minute body massage, hot stones along the spine, cups of warm, herbal tea and a chance to forget every responsibility in your life—breathe in, breathe out, that’s all you need to do. Spa days enliven us, recharge us and cleanse us through and through. But, […]

There’s nothing like an afternoon at the spa. A 60-minute body massage, hot stones along the spine, cups of warm, herbal tea and a chance to forget every responsibility in your life—breathe in, breathe out, that’s all you need to do. Spa days enliven us, recharge us and cleanse us through and through. But, when we can’t afford to take the time or money to indulge in spa treatments on a regular basis, we can still reap the benefits in our own homes. Learn five essential take-home tips from the spa to help you live longer, healthier and happier.

1) Hydrate. Our bodies lose about 2 to 3 quarts of water a day just by doing their normal housekeeping: Carrying nutrients across our cells, moving waste out of the cells and regulating the body’s temperature, all in the form of sneezing, breathing, sweating, urinating and defecating. In keeping up with the massive water loss we experience on a daily basis, we have to stay hydrated. The most common rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but some experts say you should be drinking up to a gallon a day—and even more if you exercise regularly. How can you tell if you’re getting enough water without overdoing it? The University of Washington’s Health Departmenthas the following tips for knowing when enough is enough:

Have a full glass of water immediately upon rising.

Drink regularly throughout the day instead of large “gulps” of water only a few times.

If you’re taking medications on a daily basis, take extra effort to stay hydrated—our bodies need more water for the liver and kidneys to process and metabolize medicines.

2) Relax. Take away the Swedish massage or the hot stones from your spa excursion, and you still have a highly effective therapy—relaxation. Picture it: You’re lying on a warm, padded massage table, breathing in soothing essential oils, while your muscles slowly loosen as you listen to Enya quietly crooning from some hidden boom box. What you have here is a situation of deep, undisturbed relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, the simple act of relaxing increases your health by reducing your stress, on both physical and mental levels. Relaxation does this by: Slowing the heart rate; lowering your blood pressure; slowing and deepening your breath; increasing blood flow to organs, muscles and the brain; and reducing muscle tension. Recreate the spa setup at home—sans massage, mind you—and you’ll have a free therapy that you can keep up with every weekend.

3) Read. Waiting for your massage therapist to finish up with her previous client, you recline in peace with a book of poems or a yoga magazine laid out for the customers in the spa waiting room. Unlike other waiting rooms, like the doctor’s office, the spa is quiet, serene, slightly dark and free of electronic buzz (i.e. the TV). Here, you can settle into your head in peace and enjoy the health practice of reading… wait, did she say ‘health practice’ of reading?! That’s right. Reading has shown to increase one’s attention span, decrease late-adulthood dementia and improve the memory—just ask Oprah! Next time you’re waiting for something at home—such as the rice to finish boiling, your Friday night date to arrive or your best friend to call with updates on her engagement—rather than hopping onto Facebook or flipping on the television, open a book (or even a magazine) and do your mind and body some good.

4) Enjoy tiny snacks. Don’t you just love those tiny noshes lying out next to the cucumber-infused water inside the spa? Mini brownies, chocolate-covered nuts, or fresh grapes and berries… a good spa will often have out little snacks for the customer. They make you feel special, and they’re only slightly indulgent. Best of all, teensy snacks are good for you. Many experts believe that eating several small meals throughout the day is more beneficial than eating just 3 large meals a day. Whether you space out several small meals or have the standard square meals, you can benefit from having small snacks throughout the day, which help to speed up metabolism, improve digestion and reduce cravings. Good snacking options include nuts, fruits, whole grain crackers and some local cheese—but if you’re really craving a slightindulgence, go ahead and have a mini brownie for dessert. You deserve it.

5) Pamper yourself. At the end of the day at the spa, what it all boils down to—the massages, the steam rooms, the stones, the foot rubs, the hot teas, the deep breaths—is one simple notion: Pampering yourself. And that’s very important for long-term health and well-being. Mind you, pampering is not the same thing as binging, gorging or spoiling; it’s taking time to give yourself 100 percent attention, care and devotion. And we don’t do that often enough in our regular lives. We’re busy running around doing a good job at work, taking care of the house, taking care of our loved ones and paying our bills. But when we take time to give ourselves pleasure (not mindless distraction, but genuine rest, relaxation and reconnection), we give ourselves a sense of renewal. Check out this fabulous video on Yahoo!that sheds light on the benefits of pampering ourselves.

We are very happy to announce that Danielle from NJ, AKA The Glamorganic Goddess, is our May OA Everyday Eco Star! Congratualtions! Here is her winning entry that our wonderful organic community voted on.

“I’m Danielle from NJ (also know as The GG) and was diagnosed w/ Breast Cancer at 31 yrs. old… not knowing what to do, I changed my ENTIRE Lifestyle (OMG Anne, we have so much in common girl)! Trying to “Turn My Pain Into Purpose,” I began writing a Truly Natural & Organic Beauty Blog, documenting my journey… but I am NOT your Typical Tree-Hugger! Lol. I’m a girl on a mission to lessen the toxic overload on my body, without sacrificing my standards!

I’m also currently working on an upcoming documentary film called “The Body Burden”- the idea that we are exposed to chemicals from what we eat, wear, and apply to our skin, how they accumulate in our bodies and impact our health, cosmetics regulation in the US, the connection to Breast Cancer and my story! xo ”

Danielle’s story has touched our hearts here at OA and we are proud to feature her for the next month as our Everyday Eco Star! As always, we want to especially point out all the other amazing entries we recieved. A special thanks is in order to Anne Bardis Hamilton, Linda Helmick and Sharon McGrail for their fantastic stories that you can read here.

That well-worn saying — ‘waste not, want not’ — is bandied about with reckless abandon on countless eco-lifestyle websites, but today we’re going where very few of our eco-compadres dare… behind the closed door of your bathroom. This is a snicker-free zone, people. Surely you’ve wondered (at least once?) if you could do something, um, a bit more practical with what you’d normally just flush down. There ya go – there’s no harm in wondering… and no, that doesn’t mean you’re a tree-hugging wackadoodle, either.

Scientists have shared the very same curiosity for decades and upon completing a series of agricultural growing trials in just the last few years, they’ve determined that the stuff we’d normally allow to ‘mellow’ offers precisely the right fertilizing 1-2 punch to make countless types of edible and ornamental botanicals thrive. All of the naturally occurring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in urine seems to make veggie crops especially enthusiastic about bulking up like the Incredible Hulk.

On the other hand, there’s a deep-seated ick factor regarding solid human waste that makes us more than happy to just bid it good riddance via several gallons of water, but there’s an infinitely better way to make the most of this plentiful resource. I’m not suggesting that anyone needs to create the people-poop equivalent of elephant dung paper or cow dung bricks, but composting it? Sure, why not!

Why On Earth Would Anyone Want To Compost Human Poop?

In a world where fresh water will only continue to become a precious commodity, it seems entirely impractical to flush bodily waste down the toilet (along with perfectly good H20) when every single one of us generates the raw ingredients necessary to create naturally fertilizer for lush garden soil.

Sounds Like A Messy, Smelly Pain In The Neck!

Chicago’s Humble Pile experiment – which transformed the bathroom donations of 35 willing households into gardening gold through a two year composting process – found that layering daily bucket deposits with ample amounts of sawdust significantly reduced olfactory shock while keeping gag reflexes in check.

What About The Potential For Exposure To Bacteria and Disease?

When allowed to ‘cook’ for an ample period of time, humanure compost can be rendered perfectly safe for gardening – even on edible crops. In the case of Humble Pile’s efforts, they transferred mass collections of waste into a single outdoor pile that was augmented with straw and comfrey (the latter of which naturally generates nitrogen and ramps up heat). The resulting compost ultimately tested negative for all coliform bacteria, proving that at times it’s a-okay to lay it on thick.

]]>Thanks A Latte! 5 Tips to Green Up Your Java Ritualhttp://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/thanks-a-latte-green-up-your-java-ritual-in-5-lickety-split-steps.html
Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:33:16 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s2-sanctuary/c5-sanctuary/thanks-a-latte-green-up-your-java-ritual-in-5-lickety-split-steps/Are you a slave to your cup of joe? Of all the vices to indulge in, it turns out that the humble bean – when roasted and brewed to perfection – offers health benefits well beyond the obvious jolt to your system. Knocking back a few cups a day not only aids the liver, enhances […]

Are you a slave to your cup of joe? Of all the vices to indulge in, it turns out that the humble bean – when roasted and brewed to perfection – offers health benefits well beyond the obvious jolt to your system. Knocking back a few cups a day not only aids the liver, enhances memory and reduces the incidence of Gout in post-40 males, it also makes pain killers work more effectively and helps to thwart the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. Mmmm, make mine a double with a caffeine-kick chaser.

With so many body-boosting positives, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the dark side of this beloved brew. But, the typical coffee ritual is actually rife with easily preventable waste. The good news is that with a few basic tweaks, you too can green up your brain juice without compromising your tastebuds, budget or – most importantly – Mother Nature!

Use A Sustainable Filter

Disposing of a flat paper filter may not seem like a big deal, but even if you brew just one pot a day, the landfill accumulation is entirely unnecessary when you can easily compost both the filter and grounds in one fell swoop. At the very least, fans of one-time-use filters can transition to brands that use unbleached Forest Stewardship Council certified wooden pulp or rapidly renewable bamboo, but if you don’t mind ‘rinsing and repeating,’ reusable hemp fabric filters that can be hand washed and air dried on a daily basis are a far greener option, as are fine metal mesh filters.

Kick Your Garbage Habit To The Curb

Show your commitment to the environment on a daily basis by shunning one-time-use spoons, stirrers, napkins and/or cups in favor of versions that can be washed and reused. If you purchase a festive-looking java-designated set (or get crafty with your bad self on a few upcycled pieces), you’ll find that you may really want to keep them in top form – plus taking a minute or two to soap up and rinse off your totally customized gear won’t end up compromising your busy schedule all that much.

Give Your Java ‘Mud’ A New Lease On Life

Spent coffee grounds may look like nothing more than an unappetizing pile o’ sludge, but they can morph into so many handy household aids that you’ll want to bug your friends for their beany leftovers. The naturally exfoliating powers of coarsely ground java will bestow a glow to your skin, work wonders on gunky pots and pans, serve as the foundation of a nutrient-rich houseplant tonic and even camouflage scratches in wooden furniture. Time for another cup, aye?

Eco-Clean Your Coffee Machine

Water deposits and coffee pigments can leave even five-star brewing machines looking like they haven’t seen a dentist in 20 years. As tempting as it may be to bring in the big guns with that ginormous bottle of chemical contraband still hiding all the way in the back of your cleaning cabinet, you’ve already got the goods necessary to blast through the nasty business. Yup, with plain old white vinegar, hot water and a little scrub-a-dub action. (Is there anything that clear, zippy eco-savior can’t do? Um… the answer is ‘no.’)

We are very happy to announce that Kristen Conner Pardue is our March OA Everyday Eco Star! Congratualtions! Here is her winning entry that our wonderful organic community voted in!

“Hi, my name is Kristen Pardue, and I live in Nashville, TN with my husband. What inspired me to go organic was my health falling apart about a year ago. I have always been healthy but all of a sudden, I was having extreme joint pain, swelling, tingling/numbness in my hands, and twitching throughout my body.

After seeing multiple Drs. who couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I eliminated gluten from my diet & switched to organic produce, meat, & just about everything else. My pain started disappearing. My alternative Dr. tested me & found that I also had heavy metals in my body (most people do these days, unfortunately).

Through all of my research about my health problems, I have gotten rid of everything in our house that has toxic chemicals in it, and I use green cleaners. My beauty products are even green. I started reading the ingredients list in my lotions, shampoos, etc and realized just how toxic our world has become.

Since I have performed a makeover on our food and products in our house, I feel 100% better. I don’t believe anyone should live their entire lives in pain or be forced to take medication for something that can be healed through a food makeover. My passion is to help others heal themselves.”

We at Organic Authority are truly inspired by her story, and thrilled that her organic lifestyle has had such a positive impact on her life. We don’t want to lose sight of our other fantastic entries, though. A special thanks is in order to Shannon Girouard-Fogl, Dawn Duncan Gessner, Brianne De Leon, Martin Smetsers, Jennifer Downing Bokma, Amber Doran Taylor, and Michele Halle for their fantastic stories that you can read here.

]]>Lifestyle and Stroke Riskhttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/
http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/#commentsWed, 12 Jul 2006 14:05:46 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=197The latest research proves, once again, the value of health-aware organic living. According to a report in the July 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who are nonsmokers, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet (including moderate alcohol consumption) and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle may have a reduced risk of stroke. About 700,000 Americans […]

]]>The latest research proves, once again, the value of health-aware organic living.

According to a report in the July 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who are nonsmokers, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet (including moderate alcohol consumption) and otherwise live a healthy lifestyle may have a reduced risk of stroke.

About 700,000 Americans suffer strokes each year. Approximately 25% are fatal, and another 25% leave patients disabled. Risk factors include smoking, lack of exercise and high body mass index (BMI).

Over a 10-year period, Dr. Tobias Kurth and colleagues at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health studied the association between healthy lifestyles and stroke risk in more than 37,000 women age 45 or older.

At the beginning of the study, the women answered questions about their smoking habits, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise routine and body mass index. Researchers then assigned them a health index score from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating a healthier lifestyle. Healthy behavior was defined as never smoking, consuming four to 10½ alcoholic drinks per week, exercising four or more times per week, having a BMI less than 22 and maintaining a healthy diet (rich in cereal fiber, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated vs. saturated and trans fats).

Over the study period, 450 women suffered strokes. The 4.7% who had a health index score of 17 to 20 had a significantly lower risk than those who started with a score of 0 to 4.

“Our findings show the importance of healthy behaviors in the prevention of stroke,” the authors conclude.

Suggested Reading

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/lifestyle-and-stroke-risk/feed/2Honey, We're Killing the Kids!http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/organic-food/honey-we%E2%80%99re-killing-the-kids/
Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:31:52 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=119You may have seen the commercials for The Learning Channel’s (TLC) heavily promoted new series, “Honey We’re Killing the Kids!” The 13-week show, which premieres Monday evening, is of special interest to readers dedicated to eating well and organic living: Thirteen families have children whose eating habits are out of control, with nonstop diets of […]

]]>You may have seen the commercials for The Learning Channel’s (TLC) heavily promoted new series, “Honey We’re Killing the Kids!” The 13-week show, which premieres Monday evening, is of special interest to readers dedicated to eating well and organic living: Thirteen families have children whose eating habits are out of control, with nonstop diets of junk food and oversized portions.

Hosted by Dr. Lisa Hark, a medical nutritionist and author of the new book, The Whole Grain Diet Miracle, the series offers a startling look at the causes of America’s childhood obesity epidemic, issuing a wake-up call for parents. Using state-of-the-art computer imaging, she gives them a frightening look at their children’s future faces. She then works with parents to change their ways and give their kids a healthy diet and active lifestyle. The family has three weeks to overhaul its bad habits under her direction, following her straightforward rules:

Sack the sugar.

Family eats together.

Set a bedtime routine.

Limit TV hours.

Exercise together.

The series “taps into the family experience, capturing the emotionally charged moments that moms and dads across the country face every day as they juggle schedules and make critical parenting choices,” says TLC General Manager David Abraham. “Viewers will be captivated by each family’s struggles and challenges, but will also be armed with a wealth of easily incorporated information for better nutrition and exercise habits that can be used in their own lives.”

Tune in each week to see which families can correct their nutritional attitudes and habits.

The one-hour special, which premieres 8 p.m. Wednesday (EST/PST), is based on their best-selling book of the same name. It takes you on an offbeat journey through the human body, describing proven and critically important tips for restoring and maintaining your health.

With a slew of surprising factoids and a combination of animations and unique illustrations, the special provides a more complete understanding of what makes your body tick and how you can stay healthy, strengthen your body and lead a healthier life.

“Dr. Oz is the trusted source on any subject related to health, medicine and wellness,” says Eileen O’Neill, the channel’s executive vice president and general manager. “He delivers practical and life-changing information and advice in an easy-to-understand manner, and we’re thrilled to continue to have him as Discovery Health Channel’s ‘family doctor.’ ”

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/you-the-owners-manual/feed/3Be Nice!http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/be-nice/
Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:33:51 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=45Like many of you, I headed for the mall the day after Christmas, hoping to take advantage of favorite retailers’ sales and markdowns. Holiday “tidings of comfort and joy” seemed to be a distant memory as gotta-get-there-first shoppers drove like maniacs to land parking spaces and pushy crowds flooded the center. It was survival of […]

Like many of you, I headed for the mall the day after Christmas, hoping to take advantage of favorite retailers’ sales and markdowns. Holiday “tidings of comfort and joy” seemed to be a distant memory as gotta-get-there-first shoppers drove like maniacs to land parking spaces and pushy crowds flooded the center. It was survival of the fittest, and one thought circled my mind as I navigated my way through the elbowing horde and all-around discourteousness: Why can’t people be more civil?

I was particularly shocked at how badly customer service representatives were treated at stores. Why do certain shoppers feel entitled to be disrespectful, demanding and downright obnoxious?

Business expert Winn Claybaugh, author of Be Nice (Or Else!), has the answer: “Some people seem to have the attitude that some individuals were born to serve, and others were born to be served,” he writes. “It’s been my experience that those who’ve worked in a service capacity—in the hotel, restaurant, retail or travel industries—tend to have compassion and generosity for those who might be serving them.”

At Organic Authority, we believe in remembering your organic spirit, but you should extend this courtesy to the folks who strive to make your life easier. Claybaugh urges readers to “go overboard and make up for all the times you ignored all those wonderful, amazing, humble, talented individuals who’ve made your life easier through their service.” This means saying hello to your mail carrier, garbage collector, gardener, restaurant busboy and others who often go unnoticed. Remember to say “please” and “thank you.” They’ll appreciate the gesture, as being overlooked, ignored and treated as second-class citizens happens all too often.